Verwey transition in field-emitted electrons from <110>-oriented magnetite whisker

Magnetite Fe₂O₃ whiskers are synthesized by thermal oxidation of a stainless steel substrate and identified as a single crystal extending in <110> direction by transmission electron microscopy. Field emission microscope (FEM) equipped with Mott polarization analyzer under pressure of 2times10^-8 Pa are carried out to confirm the origin of Verwey transition by investigating tip temperature and voltage dependence of spin polarisation of the field-emitted electrons.